88 Metro turbo project
Turbo Mini Forums

Just bought an 88mg metro turbo with a very good body shell. It looks a great bodyshell but its a poor runner.
The engine starts and ticks over fine but misses when you rev it and no power. I have checked and have a good spark, I have checked compression on all four cylinders and its around 55? on all four cylinders(with a cheap compression gauge and me doing it for the first time lol) all within 53 to 55 range. I have undone the dizzy and moved it a little until it revs a little better but when its revved hard I am getting a bit of smoke. I was informed by the previous owner that it has had a new carb, new turbo and new fuel pump but its on an early block not an a plus so not the original engine. The previous owner thinks its because its got the wrong pistons but having taken the plugs out and looked it seems to have pretty deep dished pistons and definitely been overbored but not sure what to at the moment. As the engine had been running ok previously I think it is nothing to do with the pistons but timing or fuelling. I have no experience with turbo engines or any tuning but would like to know where to start to get this up and running.

My SECOND option is that I have another engine in the garage I bought complete with turbo etc that i could fit. Again I don't know a lot about this engine but shining a light down the spark plug I can read the top of the piston is TRW-175-9335-T and on the ridge it has +0.03 and I have been told its just been stripped checked and re-assembled? It has T3 stamped on the block where the engine no. was. Any idea what that stands for and what the pistons are?


Any advice appreciated thanks Steve

Patina=old and knackered and won't clean up

In all fairness if you want a reliable engine , strip and rebuild it. Most metro turbo engines have been ragged and its not worth taking the risk .

I was told this but decided not to take the advice , 1000 miles later I was removing the engine after the crank let go !

I would rebuild it but I have limited time in the garage and with a mk1 mini to look after garage space and time is limited. The one engine is supposed to have been rebuilt but we will see LOL!

Patina=old and knackered and won't clean up

55psi sounds low, was that at wide open throttle?

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

New to this so maybe going wrong somewhere so bear with me LOL! Disconected coil, Removed plug, screwed in tester turned engine over for about 3 seconds? Does it make a difference if the throttles wide open?

Patina=old and knackered and won't clean up

You've tested it correctly, but doing it at WOT allows the air to enter the cylinders quicker so you don't have to crank it as long.

I'd expect the compression figures to be double or more than what you've got tbh so may be worth doing again at WOT.

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Cheers Matty, i'll try again tommorow

Patina=old and knackered and won't clean up

55lbs is way to low in my option and blue smoke as well. Take it to pieces mate and overhaul it save your self a lot of time and trouble. Alan

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Did it again with throttle wide open and got 75 iish after around 20 seconds of cranking over. Engines out now so I will take a look. Cheers Steve

Patina=old and knackered and won't clean up